118 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
[Aug. 1, 190P>. 
as the main reason for the fete. In this way 
the villagers would he induced to take a more 
active interest in the cultivation of the soil. 
It is certainly to be hoped that the Colombo 
Society will be encouraged by the result of the 
present Show in the Hf^naratgoda district and 
be induced to extend the shows next year. 
VISIT OF H.E, THE GOVERNOR. 
H.E. the Governor, escorted by the members 
of the Mutwal Cyclists Union, "arrived at tlie 
Gardens at a quarter to five, heralded by the 
National Anthem played by the G 0 H Orchestra, 
and immediately took his seat on the special 
platform erected ; Captain Gooch, A D 0, the Hon 
Everard ini Thurn, C B, C M G, Maha Mudaliyar 
S Dias Bandaranaike, C M G, the Hon Mr C A 
Murray, Mr Drieberg, Mr Beven, and others were 
also on the platform. On behalf of the Colombo 
Agricultural Society the Maha Mudaliyar, C M G, 
presented an address to the Governor. In returning 
thanks for the address His Excellency said that it 
was his first visit to the Heneratgoda Gardens with 
which he was much pleased and he complimented 
the Committee on the excellence of the Gardens, 
He regretted that Her Excellency Lady Ridgeway 
was unable to be present. She was under medical 
orders not to attempt to do too much and it was 
with difficulty that he had restrained her from 
coming to the Show that afternoon. He attached 
the greatest importance to agriculture of every 
kind, and by agriculture the Colony stands or falls. 
Under his governorship considerable attention 
had been eiven to the improvement of agri- 
culture throughout the colony, and one of the 
chief accomplishments in this direction was the 
irrigation work carried out. It was hoped that 
eventually the great irrigation workn would 
enable Ceylon to produce rice enough to make 
the colony independent of India, and having 
in regard the Indian famines this was an im- 
portant future consideration. His Excellency 
dwelt on the important work accomplished by 
the staff at the Peradeniya Gardens ; their 
work would assist the ordinary native cultiva- 
tor as well as the planters, He traced the history 
of the movement which resulted in the present 
Colombo Agricultural Society ; and mentioned 
the work being done by the village school 
gardens ; it was of great importance to get the 
native children interested and instructed in agri- 
cultural pursuits. It was no good to try and 
revolutionise the present methods of native 
cultivation, the best way to improve agricul- 
ture vfas to give olject lessons of good methods. 
The Colombo Society in 1902 determined to have 
annual sliows in tlie villages, and the Henerat- 
goda Show was the first of these. He hoped 
presently to go round and inspect the show, and 
wished the 'Society good success in the future. 
The distribution of prizes by H.E. the Governor 
followed his speech, after which His Excellency 
made a tour of the show and then planted a 
tree in the grounds to commemorate the occasion. 
The Governor returned to Colombo by the special 
train, reaching the Fort at seven o'clock. 
THE DISPLAY OF EXHIBITS, 
On the whole was satisfactory not as good pos- 
eibly as former shows held in the'metropolis, but for 
a country village show it must be considered ex- 
cellent. ' While going through the Show I could 
not help v/ondering what a son of the soil from 
the home country would think of this exhibitio n 
what would probably strike him most— the won- 
derful vegetation in the gardens, the tall slender 
areca palms and waving tufts of the coconut trees, 
the wonderful Ea^stern products of all sorts, the 
curious and strange fruits and flowers, the natives 
with their picturesque garments of various hues, 
the troupes of devil-dancers — or what ? 
To describe the various classes in order I begin 
with fruit. The show of these was very good, 
the varieties displayed were numerous and well 
shown. The pineapples especially must be 
mentioned as a splendid exhibit, probably the finest 
collection of these fruits ever seen in the Island ; 
and individual fruits were as fine in colour, size and 
flavour as the finest examples grown at home in 
pine-houses and cultivated with all the skill and 
knowledge of experienced English gardeners. The 
show of oranges was also good, while mangoes 
were very fair. The display of plantains was very 
disappointing; especially considering the district in 
which the show was held. There was a goodly 
display of pomeloes, but that pretty fruit the 
Rambutam was poorly represented. Mangosteens 
were poor and soursoups fairly good. The show 
of vegetables was fair, while the collections of Eng- 
lish vegetables from Nuwara Eliya were very fine 
and attractive. These were shown by Mrs Garth, 
Messrs D C Jayawardane and Paul Soris. A special 
silver medal was awarded to Mrs Garth for a 
splendid collection of flowers. In the Miscellaneous 
food Products the display of coconuts was excep- 
tionally fine, the commercial sample dozens made 
the decision of awards a matter of some difficulty 
and the large bunches of nuts were very good. 
Mr. W A Dep was awarded a silver medal for 
a fine collection of 37 varieties from Kuru 
Kotuva estate, Veyangoda. Copra was well 
shown, as also was coconut oil. Cinnamon oils 
were fairly shown, and several good samples of 
vinegar. Arrack of different ages was exhibited, 
Mr C E A Dias showing some 45 years old. 
Messrs. A H Ayden and Hyde, judges of the 
tea, had only two samples to deal with, the award 
going to a good quality specimen from Glendon, 
Mr. R J Booth. The only specimen of plumbago 
shown was given a prize, partly, as Mr. S C 
Obeyesekere put it, to act as an incitement to 
others upon future occasions. Some brass work, 
made by a Negombo Tamil, was well-spoken of by 
the judges ; it was stated that there is a brisk 
demand for this work and a considerable amount 
of the brassware is sent to Europe. In the special 
shed near the main building was a good display 
of lace and embroidery; and there native lace- 
workers drew considerate crowds to watch their 
clever fingers turning out the pretty and dainty 
work for which Ceylon women are widely famed. 
Some fine specimens of cattle were on exhibition ; 
the Maha Mudaliyar's excellent Indian bull was 
awarded a prize, the same gentleman's exhibit 
also being first in the class for Indian cows ; 
while Mr. H F Lotus Dharamaratne's cross-bred 
native bull was worthy of admiration. Two country- 
bred ponies were sent by Mr. C L H Bandara- 
nayake and Mr. A E Rajapakse respectively, 
the one being a one year old bred at Maligatenne 
Estate, Veyangoda, the other a four year old, 
from Kadirane Estate, Katunayaka. Poultry 
were fair only, and did not call for much re- 
mark. A word must be said about the general 
collection of produce sent for Exhibition only by 
